Analysis of Woman Of Canaan

John Newton 1725 (Wapping, London) – 1807 (London)



Prayer an answer will obtain,
Though the Lord awhile delay;
None shall seek his face in vain,
None be empty sent away.

When the woman came from Tyre,
And for help to Jesus sought;
Though he granted her desire,
Yet at first he answered not.

Could she guess at his intent,
When he to his follow'rs said,
I to Israel's sheep am sent,
Dogs must not have children's bread.

She was not of Israel's seed,
But of Canaan's wretched race;
Thought herself a dog indeed;
Was not this a hopeless case?

Yet although from Canaan sprung,
Though a dog herself she styled;
She had Israel's faith and tongue,
And was owned for Abraham's child.

From his words she draws a plea;
Though unworthy children's bread,
'Tis enough for one like me,
If with crumbs I may be fed.

Jesus then his heart revealed,
Woman canst thou thus believe?
I to thy petition yield,
All that thou canst wish, receive.

'Tis a pattern set for us,
How we ought to wait and pray;
None who plead and wrestle thus,
Shall be empty sent away.


Scheme ABAB XXXX CDCD EFEF GHGH IDID JKJK LBLB
Poetic Form Quatrain  (88%)
Metre 1110101 1010101 1111101 1110101 1010111 0111101 11100010 1111101 1111101 111111 1110111 1111101 1111101 111101 1010101 1110101 111101 1010111 1110101 011111 1111101 1010101 1011111 1111111 1011101 1011101 1110101 1111101 1010111 1111101 1110101 1110101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 972
Words 185
Sentences 10
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 32
Letters per line (avg) 24
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 95
Words per stanza (avg) 23
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

57 sec read
57

John Newton

Rev Dr John A Newton CBE is a prominent Methodist minister, author, historian and former President of the Methodist Conference. more…

All John Newton poems | John Newton Books

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